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FRANK A. \VESTBROOK AND \VINFIELD S. COOK, OF PORT JERVIS, N. Y.

CAR-=COUPLING.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 324,740, dated An ust 18, 11.885.

Application filed June 23, 18 5. (No n1od- 1.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that we, FRANK A. WEsrBRooK and WINFIELD S. 000K, of Port Jervis, in the county of Orange and State of New York,have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Oar-Couplings; and we do hereby declear, and exact description of the invention,such as willenable others skilled in the art to which it pertains to make and use it, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, which form part of this specification. I

Our invention relates to an improvement in car-couplings; and it consists in, first, the combination of the coupling-head with the turning head 0, which is pivoted in the front end of the draw-head, the vertically-n10ving pin,and an-operating-lever for moving thepin; second, the coinbination'of the drawhead, the pivoted head, which turns in the front end of the draw-head and has a hook formed on its rear end, a bent pin, an operating-lever, and the locking-slide; third, in the arrangement and combination of parts, which will be more fully described hereinafter.

The object of our invention is to provide a car-coupling which will automatically couple when the cars run together, which can be readily uncoupled without the necessity of the ln'akeinan going between the cars, and which is always safe and reliable in operation.

Figure l is aplan view of a car-coupling embodying our invention, showing the head partially forced backwarc Fig. 2 is a similar view of the same, showing the manner of connecting with the ordinary pin-and-link coupling. Fig. 3 is a side elevation of our coupling. Fig. at is an end view of the casing B, l showing the operating-lever.

A represents the couplinghead, which is preferably made of the shape here shown, and l which is connected at its rear end to the bolt D by means of the pin E. The bolt D passes through the casing B and the spring J in the usual manner. The front corners ofthe easing B are made rounding,'as shown, forthe purpose of fitting in corresponding recesses made in the rear end of the coupling-head A, and its center is recessed for the purpose of receiving the corresponding projection which is formed. on the rear end of the coupling-head. By means of these recesses and projections a perfect knucklejoint action between the parts A and B which passes vertically'through the front end of the head A. Formed with this turning head 0, which is made of the same width. or thick ness as the head A, is a suitable hook or catch, N, which projects backward and catches in the recess It, which is made in the inner side of the head A to "receive it. The turning head 0 is also recessed upon its inner side,so as to receive the end of a conpling-link, as shown in Fi 2. This head and link are connected together by means of an ordinarycoupling-pin, which is passed down through the opening X in the head 0. The hookN isnot as wide as the head O,and when the head Ois coupled with the corresponding head upon another coupler the hook and head Care in the positionshown in Fig. 1; but when the head 0 is forced backward, as shown in dotted lines in Fig. 2, the hook N projects beyond the inner side of the head A, being forced back outof the recess or slot in which it catches.

Made vertically through each head A is an 7 opening of the shape shown in Fig.3, andin this opening is placed a vertically-nioving locking-pin,F. This pin has its head formed upon one side, and is bent or crooked belowits center,-for the purpose of causing the pin to drop from its own weight in the recess or opening in which it is placed. When the turning head C is closed, as shown in Fig. 1, the pin F catches behind the hook N and looks it rigidly in place. Then the operating-lever H, which is pivoted in suitable ears, K, on the under side of the casing B, has its arm L strike against the under side of the pin F, it forces it upward, as shown in Fig. 3, untilthe hook N is released. As soon as the lever H is released its arm L and pin F cause it to turn partially around in its bearings, and then the pin F drops in its recess as low as it can. Then the turning head 0 is returned to position,the beveled portion of the hook Nstrikes against the pin and raises it upward until the hook is passed, and then the pin drops back in position and again locks the hook in place.

Through the rear end of the head A are formed inclined slots, in which the lockingslidcs G are placed. These slides, when left free to move from their own gravity, slide down the slots in which they are placed until their ends project, as shown in Figs. 1 and 2. When the heads run together, their outer ends strike the slides G and force them up the inclined grooves in which they are placed until the heads are hooked, when they slide back and lock the heads. The object of the lock is to prevent the uncoupling from undue side motion, and to prevent the draft-springs from becoming broken. When the heads are locked together, they do not bind against each other in such a manneras to cause wear and friction, When the pivoted head 0 is struck by an opposing draw-head of any kind, it closes and the spirit of our invention.

Having thus described our invention, we claim- 1. The combination, with the draw-head A, bolt D, pin E, and casing B, of the pivoted head 0, which is pivoted upon the draw-head, and which has an opening through it for connection with the ordinary coupling-link, sub-- stantially as shown.

2. The combination of the draw-head A bolt D, pin E, and easing B with the pivoted head 0, which has the hook N formed upon its inner end, with a locking-pin and operating-lever, substantially as described.

3. The combination of the head A, provided with an opening through it, with a pivoted head, 0, having the hook formed upon its inner end, the pin F,which is shaped as shown, and the operating-lever, substantially as set forth.

4. The combination of the draw-head A with the slides G, which are placed in the inclined grooves, and which operate to lock the heads together, substantially as specified.

In testimony whereof we affix our signaturesin presence of two Witnesses.

\Vitnesses:

W. E. MCCORMICK, EDGAR WHRITNER.. 

